Police Blotter: Oatland fire possible arson

Arson is suspected in a fire that heavily damaged a home in the 300 block of Britton Ave. in Oatland April 11, according to an incident report released last week.

A county fire official showed a deputy burn patterns found after the fire was extinguished that indicate the blaze was intentionally set.

While firefighters were working the fire, the residents and their neighbors were arguing with each blaming the other for the fire.

The home has been the source of a property dispute since Nov. 2012, according to the report.

The case is still being investigated.

Hot earrings located

A Georgetown woman says she had some jewelry stolen from her home in the 400 block of Front Street a few years ago.

The woman was in Low Country Jewelers in Pawleys Island May 6 when she saw some of the earrings that had been taken.

The owner of the store told the deputy as soon as the woman informed him the earrings were hers, he immediately removed them from the display and held them until law enforcement arrived.

He said he does not have a record of who sold the earrings to the store because it appears someone used the earrings to help pay for a jewelry repair bill.

The earrings were expected to be returned to the woman.

‘Move-in theft’

More than $6,500 worth of items were stolen from a vacant home on Crooked Island Circle.

The owner, who lives in NC, said he bought the house before Christmas and was trying to resell it.

He said when he checked on the house May 5, he saw the house was missing televisions, food items, clothing, the mailbox and other items.

The owner told a deputy a Murrells Inlet couple had been tasked with showing the house to potential buyers.

He later found out they had moved into the house without permission after they were evicted from their home. They are believed to be responsible for the thefts.

Stiffing Waffle House

A 29-year-old Myrtle Beach man was arrested May 3 for not paying his bill at the Murrells Inlet Waffle House.

According to a worker, the man ordered and ate a $17 meal then informed his waitress he had no way of paying.

The deputy said the man appeared “a little intoxicated” and was given the opportunity to call someone to come pay the tab. He called his parents and three friends and no one would help him out.

The man - who said he was dropped off at the restaurant by a taxi which he did pay - was charged with defrauding an inn keeper.

Hotel wallet theft

A man from Georgia called the Sheriff’s Office May 5 and reported a stolen wallet.

The man says he was staying at the Quality Inn in the City of Georgetown April 25 and while he was sleeping, someone broke in the room and took the wallet.

He said his credit card was used at the Shell station in Pawleys Island.

A report was also filed with Georgetown police.

Harassment from ex

A Murrells Inlet man said he broke up with his girlfriend - a 51-year-old North Carolina woman – May 4 and when she was leaving his Chesapeake Lane home she damaged his yard by spinning her tires.

The man said when he told the woman they needed a break from each other she tried to harm herself by swallowing a handful of orange pills.

After spinning out in the yard, the woman drove to a pay phone and called the man and said she will never leave him alone.

The man said because of the woman’s past behavior, he wanted a restraining order.

Information is subject to change as the investigation proceeds. Individuals arrested and/or charged have not been convicted.

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